Carnival Ride

By Mike Smithwick

“So, this is what ‘The Carnival’ looks like…” the Senator sniffed to himself as the group entered through the main doors of building 3. Even though it was labeled “3,” it was actually the main entrance used for dignitaries being that it had the most impressive façade of an array of already impressive façades.

Jimmy would have been surprised, perplexed and maybe even bemused at this little journey of his cousin. But that would have been Jim’s way. Not afraid to see irony where it deserved to be seen and laugh when it deserved to be laughed at.

“The Carnival” was the nickname, and a not very flattering one at that, of the Alliance’s chief “unofficial” research institute. In fact it was so well known by this lesser name, that its long winded official title was rarely used anymore. The Senator himself had trouble remembering its appellation, save for the few times it appeared in print such as right now as it was bathed in light over the reception area. “Chung Chou Institute of Advanced Technologies and Natural Sciences” it read. The Senator thought he’d just stick with “The Carnival.”

It was certainly an apt title, considering its checkered history of outlandish experiments and decisions that might be thought of as rather less than wise in retrospect. The most recent being the rare scandal that actually made it into the press, in spite of the government’s usual measures. Well, those reporters won’t be reporting any more. Even though it was pretty trivial as far as scandals can be concerned, he was surprised to see anything in the press at all, considering the Institute doesn’t officially exist. Although it was clearly one of the worst kept secrets of the government, an institution built on secrets.

Jimmy loved carnivals. When they were children, their families would take turns hosting the other for holiday. The Senator grew up in the city, used to the noisy clutter of urban existence. Whereas Jimmy was the country boy, living a good 300 miles outside the city, in New S